REPRINTED    BY    PERMISSION    OF    THE 

NORTH  AMERICAN   REVIEW 

FROM    ITS    ISSUE    OF    SEPTEMBER    1915 


PRACTICAL  PAN-AMERICANISM 

BY  JOHN  BAEBETT 

^rector-General  of  the  Pan-American   Union;  formerly   U.   S.   Minister   to   Argentina,  Panama, 

and  Colombia 

"  PAN- AMERICA  "  and  "  Pan- Americanism  "  are  to-day 
terms  of  such  vast  and  potential  significance  in  world  affairs 
that  every  one  should  be  interested  in  their  practical  appli- 
cation and  interpretation.  Affecting  vitally  the  progress 
and  prosperity  of  every  American  republic  and,  therefore, 
the  welfare  of  every  citizen  thereof,  they  are  not  to  be  dis- 
missed as  mere  concepts  of  the  moment.  Although  long 
known  in  the  phrase-book  of  international  relations,  they 
have  an  extraordinary  present-day  meaning  which,  based 
upon  both  fact  and  fancy,  appeals  alike  to  the  reason  and  the 
imagination.  Not  only  do  they  concern  directiy  all  the  na- 
tions and  peoples  of  North  and  South  America,  but  indi- 
rectly many  of  the  nations  and  peoples  of  Europe  and  even 
Asia. 

The  present  and  future  position,  influence,  and  very  exist: 
ence  of  each  of  the  twenty-one  American  republics  are  and 
will  be  so  related  to  the  wise  use  of  the  power  of  Pan- 
America,  and  the  just  application  of  the  principle  of  Pan- 
Americanisni,  that  all  patriotic  and  thinking  Americans  from 
Canada  to  Chile  should  study  thoughtfully  what  Pan- Amer- 
ica and  Pan-Americanism  mean.  The  remarkable  fact, 
moreover,  that  the  European  war  is  possibly  doing  more 
than  any  other  influence  in  history,  since  the  declaration  of 
the  Monroe  Doctrine  in  1823,  to  develop  and  emphasize  Pan- 
American  solidarity  and  community  of  interest  and  purpose, 
makes  it  inevitable  that  European  statesmen  must  recognize 
as  never  before  this  mighty  force  in  the  present  and  future 
of  world  progress. 

When  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States,  acting 
under  the  advice  of  the  President,  recently  invited  the  six 
ranking  diplomatic  representatives  of  Latin- America :  the 


2  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  REVIEW 

Ambassadors  of  Brazil,  Chile  and  Argentina,  and  the  Min- 
isters of  Bolivia,  Uruguay  and  Guatemala,  to  confer  with 
him  regarding  the  Mexican  situation,  the  United  States  Gov- 
ernment engaged  in  practical  Pan- Americanism.  It  took  a 
step  forward,  which  not  only  attracted  the  attention  of  all 
the  world  and  won  the  approval  of  all  America — judging 
from  the  almost  unanimously  favorable  comment  of  the 
Latin- American  and  United  States  press — but  showed  con- 
clusively to  the  world  that  purely  Pan-American  problems 
ought  to  be  settled  by  the  concert  of  American  nations.  Such 
action,  however,  was  in  no  way  antagonistic  to  European 
nations  or  those  outside  of  the  Pan-American  Union.  It  was 
taken  just  as  much  for  the  benefit  of  their  legitimate  inter- 
ests and  their  peoples  who  reside  or  do  business  in  American 
countries,  as  for  the  corresponding  interests  and  peoples  of 
the  Americas.  In  truth,  Pan- Americanism,  in  its  correct  in- 
terpretation, is  in  no  sense  anti-European  or  anti- Asiatic 
in  its  policies,  purposes  and  propaganda,  but  an  honest  ex- 
pression of  the  fundamental  right  of  nations  having  similar 
geographical,  historical,  political  and  commercial  interests 
and  inspirations  to  act  together  for  their  common  good  and 
protection.  Pan -Americanism  can  be  defined  in  its  simplest 
form  as  the  common  or  concerted  action  or  attitude  of  the 
twenty-one  American  republics  for  the  welfare  of  one  or 
more  or  all  of  them  without  infringement  of  their  sover- 
eignty or  integrity. 

It  may  be  said  that  by  this  invitation  the  United  States 
demonstrated  that,  while  in  its  sincere  efforts  to  advance 
practical  Pan-Americanism  it  desires  all  the  nations  of 
Pan- America  to  share  in  the  blessings  of  their  individual 
and  collective  peace  and  prosperity,  it  holds  the  belief 
that  they  should  also  share  in  bearing  the  burden  of  troubled 
conditions  in  any  one  of  them  which  may  react  unfavorably 
upon  all.  By  it  the  United  States  tangibly  recognized  the 
growing  influence  and  importance  of  the  other  American 
republics  and  their  part  and  responsibility  in  the  Pan-Amer- 
ican family,  which,  if  neglected  or  unrecognized  by  the  United 
States,  might  suggest  an  attempt  at  domination  or  self-estab- 
lished superiority  on  its  part  that  would  perhaps  promote 
distrust  where  confidence  is  necessary,  and  might  seem  to 
deny  the  equality  of  interest  and  responsibility  of  the  other 
republics  which  their  individual  sovereignty  inherently 
gives  them.  This  action  should  prove  to  Mexico  and  to  all 


PRACTICAL  PAN-AMERICANISM 

Latin- America  that  the  United  States  Government  and  peo- 
ple have  no  sinister  designs  and  plans  against  the  sover- 
eignty and  territorial  integrity  of  Mexico  or  the  other 
American  republics,  but  are  actuated  by  the  highest  humani- 
tarian and  fraternal  reasons  in  their  efforts  to  assist  in 
evolving  tranquility  of  conditions  and  stability  of  govern- 
ment in  a  neighboring  republic  and  among  a  nearby  suffering 
people. 

Even  if  this  present  effort  at  Pan-American  co-operation 
shall  fail  to  accomplish  all  that  may  be  expected  of  it — for 
at  this  writing  the  final  results  have  not  been  determined — 
such  failure  would  not  be  more  of  an  argument  against  the 
wisdom  and  sincerity  of  the  attempt  than  would  the  failure 
of  any  logical  co-operation  of  neighbors,  associates  and 
friends  to  help  one  of  their  number  who  is  in  dire  distress. 
Whether  it  succeeds  or  fails,  it  shows  the  good  intentions  of 
the  governments  concerned.  It  develops  their  mutual  re- 
sponsibility. It  brings  them  closer  together  as  friends  and 
neighbors.  There  is  excellent  evidence  of  this  fact  in  the 
"  ABC  Mediation  "  which  took  place  a  little  over  a  year 
ago.  That  concerted  effort  of  three  Latin- American  Powers 
was  supported  by  the  other  sixteen  in  a  resolution  of  the 
Governing  Board  of  the  Pan- American  Union  approved  May 
6,  1914,  to  the  following  effect:  "  The  Pan- American  Union 
applauds  and  supports  the  mediation  offered  by  the  Govern- 
ments of  Argentina,  Brazil  and  Chile  through  the  medium 
of  their  distinguished  representatives  for  the  preservation 
of  the  peace  of  the  American  continent. ' '  The  effort  did  not 
result  in  establishing  peace  in  Mexico,  but  it  accomplished 
more  than  any  other  influence  in  many  years  to  bring  the 
American  nations  closer  together  and  to  prove  their  unself- 
ish desire  to  aid  each  other  in  preserving  peace  in  the  Pan- 
American  family.  The  Ambassadors  of  Brazil,  Chile  and 
Argentina  are  entitled  to  much  credit  for  their  long,  per- 
sistent, and  patient  endeavor  to  bring  about  directly  a  set- 
tlement of  the  differences  between  the  United  States  and 
Mexico,  and  indirectly  permanent  peace  in  a  suffering  sister 
nation.  History  will  accord  them  more  honor  than  has  con- 
temporary sentiment. 

In  discussing  practical  Pan- Americanism  as  shown  in  the 
co-operation  or  mediation  of  the  American  republics  in  the 
matter  of  Pan-American  questions,  it  is  interesting  to  recall 
some  notable  precedents  for  such  international  action,  A 


4  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  REVIEW 

survey  of  the  one  hundred  years  which  have  passed  since 
most  of  the  Latin- Ajnerican  republics  gained  their  independ- 
ence discloses  many  instances  of  greater  or  less  Pan- Ameri- 
can co-operation,  but  mention  is  made  here  only  of  com- 
paratively recent  cases.  In  1895,  when  President  Cleveland 
sent  his  famous  message  to  Congress  regarding  the  British- 
Venezuelan  boundary  dispute,  the  governments  of  several 
of  the  Latin- American  republics  sent  congratulatory  reso- 
lutions passed  by  their  Congresses  or  expressed  some  official 
satisfaction  at  his  action.  In  1906,  when  President  Gomez 
was  inaugurated  President  of  Cuba,  following  the  interven- 
tion of  the  United  States,  practically  all  the  Latin- American 
Governments,  acting  in  harmony  with  the  United  States, 
sent  special  diplomatic  representatives  to  be  present,  and 
this  signified  their  sympathy  with  the  United  States  in  its 
unselfish  efforts  to  preserve  order  and  establish  permanent 
peace  in  Cuba. 

In  1907,  the  notable  Central  American  Peace  Conference 
was  held  in  Washington,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Pan- 
American  Union.  This  was  attended  by  official  delegates 
from  the  five  Central  American  Governments,  which,  in  turn, 
invited  the  United  States  and  Mexican  Governments  to  ap- 
point plenipotentiaries  to  co-operate  with  them  in  reaching 
conclusions  and  drafting  treaties  that  would  prevent  wars 
between  Central  American  nations.  This  co-operation  was 
effective,  for  since  then  there  has  been  no  actual  warfare 
between  any  two  or  more  of  the  Central  American  republics, 
although  one  or  two  have  been  disturbed  by  slight  revolu- 
tions. In  1910,  when  Argentina  and  Bolivia  were  somewhat 
at  odds  over  an  arbitral  award,  and  Argentina  did  not  see 
fit  to  extend,  or  Bolivia  to  accept,  a  direct  invitation  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  Fourth  Pan-American  Conference,  the  good 
offices  of  several  Governments  brought  about  a  resumption 
of  friendly  relations.  In  1911,  when  Colombia,  Ecuador  and 
Peru  seemed  on  the  verge  of  going  to  war  over  boundary 
questions,  the  United  States  and  several  Latin-American 
Governments  united  in  making  representations  which  helped 
to  prevent  an  actual  conflict.  It  may  also  be  remembered 
that  when,  several  years  ago,  negotiations  between  the 
United  States  and  Chile  over  the  so-called  Alsop  claim  were 
somewhat  strained,  the  informal  and  friendly  suggestions 
of  one  or  two  of  the  Pan-American  Governments  relieved  the 
situation  and  prevented  a  possible  serious  crisis. 


PRACTICAL  PAN-AMERICANISM  5 

To  point  out  and  summarize  some  of  the  principal  pres- 
ent-day developments  of  practical  Pan- Americanism,  three 
main  propositions  and  facts  can  be  noted  as  follows : 

I.  The  most  potential  and  interesting  opportunity  and  re- 
sponsibility before  the  United  States  in  the  realm  of  foreign 
relations  to-day  lies  in  the  twenty  Latin- American  republics 
which  extend  from  Mexico  and  Cuba  south  to  Argentina  and 
Chile. 

II.  These  republics,  in  turn,  according  to  the  statements 
of  their  statesmen  and  newspapers,  are  more  desirous  than 
at  any  previous  period  in  their  history  to  get  into  closer 
political,  commercial,  economic,  financial  and  sympathetic 
touch  with  the  United  States. 

III.  With    the    Old    World,    including    Europe,    Asia, 
Africa,  Australia,  and  our  own  nearby  Canada,  engaged  in 
the  most  titanic  war  of  all  history,  the  New  World,  or  Pan- 
America — comprising  twenty-one  nations  at  peace  with  each 
other  and  inspired  by  the  Pan- Americanism  born  of  common 
purpose  and  interest — is  destined  to  become  the  mightiest 
combination  and  influence  for  universal  peace  and  good-will 
among  nations  and  men  which  the  world  has  ever  known. 

It  is  now  necessary  and  fitting,  in  order  to  understand  this 
remarkable  Pan-American  situation,  to  consider  and  enu- 
merate some  of  the  principal  influences  and  agencies  of  re- 
cent years  which  have  helped  to  bring  it  about.  Among 
these  the  following  may  be  cited: 

1.  The  unremitting  work  of  education,  information  and 
propaganda  in  behalf  of  peace,  friendship,  commerce  and 
general  intercourse  among  the  American  republics,  carried 
on  through  many  years  and  in  the  face  at  times  of  serious 
difficulties  by  the  Pan- American  Union  (formerly  known  as 
the  Bureau  of  American  Republics),  the  international  offi- 
cial organization  and  office  of  the  twenty-one  American  re- 
publics, maintained  by  them  in  Washington  and  controlled 
by  a  Governing  Board  made  up,  by  international  agreement, 
of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  United  States  and  of  the 
diplomatic  representatives  of  the  twenty  other  republics 
accredited  to  the  United  States. 

2.  The  new  and  special  attention  given  in  late  years  by 
the  State  Department  of  the  United  States  to  diplomatic  and 
commercial  relations  with  all  of  the  republics  of  Latin- Amer- 
ica ;  and  the  recent  activity  of  the  Government  in  promoting 
Pan- American  trade. 

VOL.  ecu. — NO.  718  27 


6  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  REVIEW 

3.  The  visits  to  Latin- America  of  high  officials  of  the 
United  States  Government,  especially  of  Secretaries  of  State, 
and  of  other  representative  statesmen,  scholars,  editors,  writ- 
ers, travelers  and  business  men ;  and  the  activities  and  efforts 
of  an  able  corps  of  United  States  diplomatic  and  consular 
representatives,  military  and  naval  attaches,  in  the  Latin- 
American  capitals  and  principal  centers  of  commerce  and 
social  life. 

4.  The  presence  in  Washington  of  exceptionally  high- 
grade  Ambassadors  and  Ministers,  secretaries  and  attaches 
from  all  the  Latin-American  Governments,  who,  by  their 
character,  ability,  tact,  and  public  utterances  have  created 
a  profoundly  favorable  impression,  and  also,  as  members  of 
the   Governing  Board  of  the  Pan-American  Union,  have 
wisely  advised  and  inspired  its  executive  officers  in  the  ad- 
ministration of  its  work  for  peace,  friendship  and  commerce. 

5.  The  meeting,  at  varying  intervals,  of  the  great  official 
international  or  Pan-American  Conferences,  beginning  with 
the  first,  which  met  in  Washington  in  1889-90,  and  including 
the  second  at  Mexico  in  1901-2,  the  third  at  Rio  de  Janeiro 
in  1906,  and  the  fourth  at  Buenos  Aires  in  1910,  which  were 
attended  by  plenipotentiaries  from  all  the  republics,  and  at 
which  many  Pan-American  questions  and  problems  were 
frankly  and  amicably  discussed. 

6.  The  holding  of  numerous  other  official  or  semi-official 
Conferences,  such  as  the  Pan-American  Scientific  Confer- 
ences, the  Pan-American  Sanitary  Conferences,  the  Pan- 
American  Medical  Conferences,  the  Pan-American  Commer- 
cial Conferences,  including,  in  particular,  the  one  which  met 
in  the  Pan-American  building  in  1911  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Pan-American  Union  in  response  to  invitations  of  the 
Director  General,  and  also  its  more  ambitious  successor,  the 
Pan-American  Financial  Conference,  which  assembled  in  the 
latter  part  of  May  of  this  year  in  response  to  the  invitations 
extended  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United 
States;  these,  in  turn,  to  be  followed  by  the  International 
Joint  Commission — growing  out  of  the  late  Financial  Confer- 
ence— which  will  meet  in  Buenos  Aires,  Argentina,  next  No- 
vember, and  the  second  Pan-American  Scientific  Congress 
which  will  meet  at  Washington  December  27,  1915-January 
8,  1916. 

7.  The  extraordinary  recent  progress  of  many  of  the 
Latin- American  countries  in  population,  commerce,  political 


PRACTICAL  PAN-AMERICANISM  < 

influence,  peaceful  conditions,  stability  of  government,  trans- 
portation facilities,  education,  science,  arts  and  literature 
— a  degree  of  progress  which  has  demanded  world-wide  at- 
tention and  recognition;  the  growth  of  great  cities  and  com- 
mercial entrepots  among  them;  their  increasing  attraction 
for  travelers  and  explorers;  the  exploitation  of  their  mar- 
velous and  limitless  agricultural,  mining,  timber,  industrial 
and  water-power  possibilities;  and  the  rapid  evolution  in 
some  of  them  of  progressive  and  ambitious  peoples  seeking 
active  participation  in  world  affairs. 

8.  The  construction  and  completion  of  the  Panama  Ca- 
nal, which,  while  physically  dividing  North  and  South  Amer- 
ica, has  commercially  and  politically  brought  the  two  con- 
tinents closer  together  and  quickened  the  interest  of  the 
world  in  the  countries  which  can  now  be  reached  through 
it;  the  improvement  of  steamship  and  transportation  facili- 
ties logically  resulting  from  it;  the  betterment  of  sanitary 
and  healthful  conditions  in  tropical  and  subtropical  sections 
of  Latin- America  which  were  inspired  and  undertaken"  as  a 
result  of  the  example  set  and  the  good  accomplished  at  Pan- 
ama. 

9.  The   recent  widespread  attention,   which  the  Pan- 
American  Union  labored  during  many  years  to  awaken,  now 
being  given  to  Latin- America  by  Chambers  of  Commerce  and 
Boards  of  Trade,  other  commercial,  industrial  and  financial 
organizations,  civic  societies  and  literary  clubs,  universities 
and  colleges,  newspapers  and  magazines,  books  and  pam- 
phlets; the  almost  overwhelming  and  constantly  increasing 
demand  on  the  Pan- American  Union,  from  all  parts  of  the 
world,  for  every  variety  of  information  relating  to  each 
American  republic;  the  call  upon  the  Latin- American  dip- 
lomats and  executive  officers  of  the  Pan- American  Union  for 
numerous  addresses  on  Pan- American  subjects ;  and  the  pro- 
gressive action  of  some  of  the  representative  banking,  man- 
ufacturing, exporting,  importing,  and  shipping  firms  and 
companies  of  the  United  States  and  Latin- America  in  for- 
warding Pan-American  material  development. 

10.  The  practical  results  actually  accomplished  for  Pan- 
Americanism  through  the  initiative  of  the  Pan-American 
Union  during  the  last  eight  and  one-half  years,  as  follows : 
(a)  the  establishment  of  courses  in  Spanish  (and  in  some 
instances  in  Portuguese  also)  and  in  Latin- American  his- 
tory, geography  and  natural  development,  at  over  2,000  uni- 


8  THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  REVIEW 

versities,  colleges,  normal  and  high  schools,  academies  and 
private  educational  institutions  throughout  the  United 
States,  with  corresponding  help  in  the  establishment  of  Eng- 
lish courses  among  Latin"- American  colleges  and  schools; 
(b)  the  regular  acceptance  by  1,500  newspapers  in  the  United 
States  and  300  in  Latin- America  of  descriptive  matter  and 
news  bulletins  relating  to  the  progress  of  the  American  re- 
publics; (c)  the  causing  of  over  3,000  libraries  in  the  United 
States  and  many  in  Latin- America  to  equip  their  shelves  with 
books  relating  to  the  Pan- American  countries,  based  on  lists 
carefully  prepared  by  the  Columbus  Memorial  Library  of 
the  Pan-American  Union;  (d)  the  supplying  of  data  and  in- 
formation which  has  caused  over  5,000  manufacturers,  ex- 
porters, importers,  bankers  and  other  business  men  to  in- 
vestigate or  develop  Pan-American  business  relations,  and 
has  resulted  in  an  actual  increase  of  $400,000,000  in  Pan- 
American  trade;  (e)  the  providing  of  information  which  has 
aided  over  6,000  North  and  South  Americans  to  visit  other 
American  countries  than  their  own;  and  (f)  the  purchase 
of  property  and  the  construction  of  a  building  for  a  fitting 
headquarters  of  the  Pan-American  Union  as  an  international 
organization  and  home  of  practical  Pan- Americanism,  at  a 
cost  of  approximately  $1,100,000,  towards  which  Mr.  Andrew 
Carnegie  generously  contributed  $850,000  and  the  American 
republics  $250,000. 

11.  Finally,  and  perhaps,  at  the  moment,  most  impor- 
tant of  all,  the  three  following  influences :  first,  the  European 
war,  which  has  demonstrated  practically  and  convincingly 
the  interdependence  and  common  interests  of  the  nations  and 
peoples  of  the  western  hemisphere ;  second,  the  Mexican  rev- 
olution, which  has  brought  the  United  States  and  its  sister 
republics  face  to  face  with  one  of  the  greatest  problems  of 
Pan-American  peace  and  fraternity,  and  has  inspired  the 
spirit  and  action  of  Pan-American  mediation  and  co-opera- 
tion ;  and,  third,  the  statesmanlike,  unselfish  and  sympathetic 
interest  and  attitude  of  the  President  of  the  United  States 
in  all  questions  and  matters  pertaining  to  the  Pan- American 
relations  of  the  United  States,  which  has  been  appreciated 
throughout  Latin-America  and  reciprocated  by  the  Presi- 
dents of  the  other  American  republics. 

Fully  to  grasp  the  significance  of  Pan- America  and  its 
resulting  product,  Pan- Americanism,  it  is  necessary  to  re- 
member what  Pan- America  represents  in  area,  commerce  and 


PRACTICAL  PAN-AMERICANISM  9 

population.  The  combined  area  of  Pan- America,  exclusive 
of  Canada,  is  12,000,000  square  miles,  of  which  the  Latin- 
American  countries  occupy  approximately  9,000,000  and  the 
United  States  3,000,000.  This  physical  extent  of  Pan- Amer- 
ica is  better  realized  when  it  is  compared  with  that  of  Europe, 
which  has  3,750,000  square  miles,  with  AJrica,  which  has 
11,500,000,  and  with  Asia,  which  has  17,000,000. 

Remembering  that  commerce  is  often  described  as  the 
"  life  blood  of  nations, "  the  Pan-American  family  certainly 
can  be  classed  as  lusty  and  full-blooded,  for,  in  the  last 
normal  year  before  the  war,  1913,  Pan- America's  foreign 
trade,  including  both  imports  and  exports,  was  valued  at  the 
enormous  total  of,  approximately,  $7,000,000,000,  of  which 
the  share  of  the  United  States  was  about  $4,200,000,000  and 
of  the  Latin- American  countries  $2,800,000,000. 

In  this  connection  there  should  be  emphasized  strongly 
a  fact  not  generally  appreciated,  and  not  in  harmony  with 
the  snap  judgment  and  comment  of  many  superficial  students 
of  Pan- American  trade,  or  of  those  who  are  deluded  by  the 
impression  that  only  during  the  last  year  have  American 
business  men  awakened  to  the  Pan-American  opportunity: 
namely,  that  in  the  actual  exchange  of  products  between  for- 
eign countries  and  Latin-America  the  United  States  leads 
all  other  countries,  including  Great  Britain  and  Germany. 
In  other  words,  the  actual  valtire  of  the  exports  and  imports 
which  the  United  States  exchanged  with  the  twenty  Latin- 
American  countries  in  1913  exceeded  $800,000,000.  The  total 
for  Great  Britain  was  $640,000,000;  for  Germany  $410,000,- 
000.  These  figures  covering  both  exports  and  imports — for 
that  is  the  only  true  way  to  measure  foreign  commerce — 
should  effectively  destroy  the  bogey  so  frequently  stalking 
about,  that  the  United  States  is  far  behind  the  European 
countries  in  its  trade  with  Latin- America.  While  it  is  true 
that  Great  Britain  and  Germany  did  lead  the  United  States 
in  the  value  of  products  exchanged  with  some  of  the  coun- 
tries of  South  America  proper,  they  were  far  behind  the 
United  States  in  their  commerce  with  all  Latin-America, 
which  includes  all  countries  from  Mexico  and  Cuba  south  to 
the  Straits  of  Magellan. 

It  is  gratifying,  moreover,  to  state  that  the  commercial 
and  financial  interests  of  the  United  States  and  Latin- Amer- 
ica have,  during  the  past  eight  years,  been  responding  more 
and  more  each  year  to  the  efforts  of  the  Pan-American  Union 


10 

to  build  up  greater  trade  exchange  and  closer  financial  rela- 
tions among  the  American  republics.  This  is  proved  beyond 
doubt  by  the  fact  that  in  the  period  during  which  the  writer 
has  served  as  the  executive  officer  of  the  Pan-American 
Union,  or  since  1906,  the  value  of  the  exports  and  imports 
exchanged  between  the  United  States  and  the  twenty  Latin- 
American  countries  has  grown  from  less  than  $500,000,000 
to  more  than  $800,000,000. 

Pan- America 's  real  greatness,  significance,  and  power  in 
world  relationship  are  also  emphasized  by  appreciation  of 
its  present  population  and  the  future  possibilities  for  a  vast 
increase.  Its  twenty-one  nations  can  now  boast  of  a  popula- 
tion of  180,000,000,  of  which  100,000,000  are  living  in  United 
States  territory  and  80,000,000  in  Latin- America. 

There  are  several  unfortunate  impressions  concerning 
Pan-American  relations,  among  those  uninformed  as  to  the 
real  Latin- America,  which  should  be  corrected  in  order  that 
true  Pan- Americanism  shall  not  be  unfairly  hampered  in 
its  logical  development.  One  is  the  too  prevalent  opinion 
about  revolutions  and  armed  political  disturbances.  Despite 
the  troubled  conditions  in  Mexico  and  Haiti  which  to-day 
tend  to  distort  the  vision,  two-thirds  of  the  population  and 
area  of  all  Latin- America  have  known  no  serious  revolution 
in  thirty  years,  while  it  has  had  so  few  international  wars 
in  a  hundred  years  that  it  can  shame  Europe 's  record  for 
the  past  century.  There  is  also  the  suggestion  that  all 
Latin- America  is  opposed  to  the  Monroe  Doctrine.  But 
what  is  interpreted  as  opposition  to  the  Monroe  Doctrine  is 
not  a  feeling  against  the  original  Doctrine  and  the  condi- 
tions under  which  it  was  declared,  but  against  a  kind  of 
casual  interpretation  of  it  in  the  United  States  which  carries 
the  obnoxious  intimation  that  the  United  States  has  a 
"  holier  than  thou,"  a  supreme,  position  among  the  nations 
of  the  western  hemisphere.  Latin-America,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  believes  in  a  just  and  unselfish  interpretation  of  the 
Monroe  Doctrine — an  interpretation  which  would  make  it  a 
Pan- American  principle  or  policy,  by  which  all  the  countries 
of  North  and  South  America  would  stand  for  the  sovereignty 
and  integrity  of  each. 

In  this  discussion  of  Pan-America  and  Pan-American- 
ism, Canada  has  not  been  included  because  she  is  a  part  of 
the  British  Empire,  and  yet  in  many  respects  she  is  as 
closely  associated  with  the  purposes  of  Pan-Americanism 


PRACTICAL  PAN-AMERICANISM  11 

and  as  dependent  upon  Pan-American  commerce  and  rela- 
tionship as  some  of  the  countries  forming  the  Pan- American 
Union.  Some  day,  and  possibly  one  not  too  far  distant,  it 
is  probable  that  Canada  will  desire  to  become  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Pan- American  Union,  or,  at  least,  an  honorary 
or  corresponding  member,  so  to  speak,  if  that  can  be  ar- 
ranged by  international  agreement.  When  that  time  comes, 
Pan-America,  in  its  broadest  possibilities,  will  include 
twenty-two  Governments  instead  of  twenty-one  as  now,  and 
there  can  be  little  doubt  that  Canada  herself  will  become 
as  staunch  an  advocate  and  friend  of  practical  Pan- Amer- 
icanism as  any  of  the  ABC  or  other  Latin- American  Powers 
which  have  participated  in  Pan-American  mediation,  or  have 
joined  in  Pan-American  co-operation  and  the  growing  work 
and  responsibilities  of  the  Pan- American  Union. 


FEB  7-  191 


Gaylord  Bros, 
•,.v- 


Makers 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

PAL  JAN.  21,  1908 


• 


